Cr John Tramby led the discussion at Thursday’s council meeting, asking what the council could do to stop the Housing NSW proposal.

“Is it possible for the council to have any input, take any action, request any notification or in any way use its considerable skills and ability with regards to the public housing debacle unfolding in Moree,” Cr Tramby asked.

The council will continue to express its strong concerns to the State Government in the hope they would reconsider their approach to this issue.

A Housing NSW spokesperson told the Moree Champion that the two proposed two-storey social housing developments in Auburn St would particularly focus on accommodating senior citizens.

“First of all you don’t put elderly people in a two-storey house,” Cr Tramby said.

“I believe it’s totally unacceptable,” he said.

“The town has had to suffer the results of absolute poor public housing and social planning for generations and it seems now for generations to come.”

Mayor Katrina Humphries, Cr Geoff Percy, Cr Claudia Gall and Cr James von Drehnen also strongly opposed the proposal.

“I cannot believe that we have to comply with all our policies to get to a DA (development application) and to think an authority can come in and do nothing as far as public consultation is absolutely up my nose big time,” Cr Gall said.

“I cannot believe a style of housing that has been proven not to work in our community is continuing

Director of planning and development Lester Rodgers said the council have submitted a four-page expression of concern in relation to the Auburn St development.

“We have been afforded an opportunity to make comment primarily on the technical aspect of the proposal,” Mr Rodgers said.

The Housing NSW spokesperson also told the Moree Champion that the proposed social housing developments in Auburn St were architecturally designed and would improve the “streetscape”.

“As well as providing modern housing, this will also provide much-needed jobs in Moree for trades people in the construction industry,” she said.